Volume 3
Chapter 13
Part 5
Reverse the
Spiritual Path, Follow it to the Sanctuary 5
Translator : PolterGlast
―At the same time, in the southeast of the Central
Capital, on Kugatachi Mountain.
A thunderous blast
reaching halfway up the mountain shook the ground and knocked the guardian
candidates off their feet.
The boys, still
inexperienced on the battlefield, looked around while clinging to the thicket
of trees without falling over.
"Bastards! Are
you guys really guardians!?" A fearless man scolded them as he passed by
the backs of the candidates, who were unbearably flustered.
"Regroup
according to ranks! ―Get a grip on the situation!"
"""Ou~!"""
As soon as the
candidates realized that the man was Rindo Kozaburo, the head of the fifth rank
of the Eight Families, the backs of the guardian candidates straightened up.
The Eight Families,
who are granted affiliation to the Four Sovereigns and the Three Imperial
Families, are high-ranking families that have been entrusted with the
responsibility of protecting the country.
Even if their rank
within the eight families is low, they are the leading members of the nobility.
The name of the Eight Families was highly respected throughout Takamagahara.
Especially in this
kind of battlefield, the titles of the Eight Families were unparalleled in
their impact.
Amidst the clamor of
the crowd, Kozaburo turned his gaze toward the other side, where he could see
the main shrine of Mt. Kugatachi.
The sight reflected in
his vision was the roof of the main shrine, with only the rib beams remaining
more than half of it.
The vermillion gold
glow still filled the area, though he was confident that Tsuguho was safe and
sound.
“Lord Rindo, the squads have finished lining up."
"Good. Get in
line and descend to the foot of the mountain to prepare for the enemy attack.
Leave the command on-site to your superiors and stay as close together as
possible."
The broader the squad
that transcends factional and family relationships is, the more competent the
leadership must be.
Although it may be
possible to unite as a Shumon Province faction, the only people here are
juveniles with little experience in purifying Kegare.
They are all
youngsters who have not yet developed their resolve. Kozaburo quickly abandoned
his unreasonable expectation for them to unite beyond acquaintance.
He distributed the
divided ranks into evenly spaced units and proceeded to take a broad, thinly
spread defensive formation.
The strategy he chose
was one of the safest and most basic ones. Normally, this would be an option to
avoid, but Kouzaburou did not even think twice rather than move the troops
poorly and cause a friendly fire.
"Military
drill... garrison... As I recall, that Genji fellow was very skillful in
handling Saki. I'd like to meet him for the first time in a while and ask him
about his tricks over some drinks."
It was four years ago
that the second son of the neighboring fiefdom, whom he had known well, had
become a guest of the Naze territory by chance.
He was skilled, but
unsociable. He was given the role of Saki's guardian in the hope that it would
give him a chance to get used to things, and it seemed to suit him quite well.
He remembered the
young man he once knew, who had grown into a gentleman.
Chuckling quietly in
the back of his throat, Kozaburo was about to check on Tsuguho's situation
when―,
"―Father."
"Saki? Have you
finished your business?"
The echo of a childish
voice thrown on his back made him stop in his tracks. He looked around and saw
his youngest daughter walking toward him from the other side of the crowd, with
her ponytail swinging.
"Un. .......I've
finished what I was investigating.
What's with all this
commotion?"
"No doubt this is
a ploy by the enemy.
For the time being,
let them focus on defense, but despite their numbers, their experience is
lacking."
If Nurarihyon were to
invade, now would be the perfect time to do so, since the defense network based
on the Five Elemental Barrier had collapsed.
Expressing this
conviction on his tongue, Kozaburo looked at his youngest daughter, who counted
twelve years of age.
She must have come
running from the academy because she was breathing slightly raggedly.
"You rushed here
in a hurry, huh?"
"I ran through
the Central Capital with Hayabusa-gake.
―Is Tsuguho-sama at the main shrine?"
"Yes. Even from
here, we can see the roof is blown off.
But since the
mountain's barrier is not destroyed, I'm sure she's fine, but we need to at
least check on her situation.
―Saki, can you take charge of the battlefield?"
"Father,
Tsuguho-sama is a woman. She would not want a man to see her vulnerable state,
even if that man is the head of the Eight Families. ―It would be better if I
went to Tsuguho-sama instead."
"Hmm. That may be
true.
......But such a
flashy move might be a diversion by Nurarihyon. So, you might be a hindrance to
Tsuguho-sama, you know?"
"I, too, am a
member of the Eight Families. After reuniting with Tsuguho-sama, I will go to a
place near the spiritual path to protect it. Akira-kun will also be returning
through the spiritual path, and that should be the closest place for us to meet
up."
I see. Kozaburo nodded
his head, and at the edge of his vision, the toe of the girl who had turned on
her heel stopped as if in hesitation.
Is there something
that makes her doubt?
As Kozaburo looked at
her, the girl's gaze wandered off into the distance.
The tip of her
ponytail swayed slightly, caught in the girl's emotion.
"Saki?"
"......Why."
A stunned and
bewildered monologue.
Kozaburo glanced
around upon witnessing his daughter's doubt.
There was just a quiet
grove of trees without any tension.
Seeing nothing out of
the ordinary, Kozaburo turned his attention back to his daughter.
"What's
wrong?"
"―It's nothing,
father.
I was just surprised
that a piece was broken at this stage."
In response to
Kozaburo's question, Saki showed a smile that did not show the confusion she
felt earlier.
Seeing her smile,
which was devoid of any confusion, Kozaburo stopped pursuing the matter for the
time being.
In any case, it was a
muttering that could not even be questioned. The priority should be to stop the
Hyakki Yagyo, which could occur anytime soon.
―I should ask her about it later.
Kozaburo barely
managed to keep his thoughts from drifting away and nodded his head in
understanding to the girl who had turned on her heels.
"......I see. I
shall leave Tsuguho-sama to you then."
"―Yes. I wish you
good luck, father."
Those were the only
words exchanged.
She left and blended
in with the crowd of people passing by.
Kozaburo watched his
daughter's back as her ponytail swayed.
He had no time to be
preoccupied with his daughter's movements, so he turned his body to descend the
mountain.
He turned around, and
the wind coming down from the mountain was tinged with a golden hue.
"―Sorry to keep
you waiting, Rindo-sama. I saw you were talking to someone. Who was it?"
"It's my
daughter. She has finished her business and arrived here a short while
ago."
Benedetta tilted her
head at Kozaburo's reply.
Although she was a bit
left out, the atmosphere around her was one she was familiar with.
―The smell of smearing blood and scorching odor.
It was the smell of a
battlefield.
The conversation
between the father and daughter seemed rather cold in the face of the
battlefield, where life and death cannot be guaranteed.
"If that was the
case, wouldn't it be better if you had exchanged a few more words?
I wouldn't mind
waiting a little longer, you know?"
"No need to worry
about it.
―I would be grateful if you would also retreat to the
rear, Cassalini-dono.
Frankly speaking,
don't you think bringing an important person on a battlefield is a situation
that should be avoided at all costs?"
―I beg you, please behave yourself.
Benedetta smiled
faintly and firmly declined Kozaburo's request without saying a word.
She was not interested
in the Hyakki Yagyo, but if she could sell the achievements she had made in
assisting them as a favor, that would be a different story.
Since Shumon Province
did not have the manpower to send troops to the Central Capital, Benedetta's
offer was not something that could be ignored.
"It is our
responsibility to lend a helping hand to our allies in their time of need.
Rest assured. We will
prove that the prestige of St. Ariadne is still strong even across the
ocean."
"Very well. In
that case, I'll rely on you.
......But I think it
will be in vain, though. Hyakki Yagyo is no more of a threat to me than a bunch
of flying insects."
"You seem to be
very confident.
Well, with the
prestige of the Eight Families reverberating far and wide, we can certainly
have high hopes for you."
The exchange of
lighthearted banter lightened their spirits as they leaped up the steep slope.
The sound of kicking
gravel did not stop until the last few people had left.
♢
Amidst the residual
glitter of vermillion gold, Tsuguho furrowed her brow from a headache she
hadn't experienced in a long time.
The altar, which had
been blown away and scattered in a mess, was reflected in her twin eyes that
finally opened.
―No. Rather, the visibility was much brighter.
Following the source
of the light, she looked up at the ceiling and found that it had been blown
away, leaving the beams exposed. Tsuguho's eyes widened as she beheld the
damage caused by a direct hit.
"Kuh. ―Are you
alright, Aka-sama?"
"You have done it
now, Nurarihyon.
You stole my divine
energy and thrust it into the spiritual path of Soukoku."
The anguish that even
the divine pillar could not hide colored Shuka's lovely voice.
Hearing these words,
Tsuguho finally understood what had happened.
The spiritual paths of
Aioi and Soukoku that support the Five Elemental Barrier. These two spiritual
paths closely influence each other, but they still form a separate chain.
If the spiritual path
of Soukoku, which is responsible for control, is destroyed, the out-of-control
dragon veins themselves will directly impact the Five Elemental Barrier.
The dragon veins that
support the Five Elemental Barrier, which boasts unparalleled robustness, are
reversed and become the blade that strikes the divine pillars that support the
Cornerstone Mountains.
It is such an obvious
weakness, but of course, it is not structured to be easily pierced.
Except for the
Cornerstone Mountains, which connect the base points, the spiritual paths of
Soukoku do not touch the outer edges of the barrier.
Penetrate into the
Five Elemental Barrier and invade the pivotal sacred realm.
―A difficult task that would be impossible to
accomplish by simply destroying it.
"Aka-sama' divine
energy......?"
"Exactly, I
understood his tricks.
The Pārijāta that was
kept in this Mistress's sanctuary. Its authority is most likely to create a
spiritual connection with its counterpart. Interference with water flow is a
mere facade."
"The sacred
artifact entrusted to Saki-san!?"
As Shuka explained in
frustration, Tsuguho also began to understand.
Shuka's sanctuary
(Bankyū Daigara) is filled with Shūka's divine energy.
If such divine energy
is channeled into Saki's Pārijāta through the spiritual path, which cannot be
interfered with, simply swinging it down will become almost as powerful as the
divine artifact's authority itself.
Based on the outward
appearance of the stakes, and their authority themselves, they are not suitable
for combat. It was an easy assumption that Nurarihyon would refrain from
retrieving Pārijāta if it was inside the Five Elemental Barrier.
Clearly, that judgment
was a blunder on Tsuguho and the others' part.
"We can only pray
for Saki's safety.
―It is a blessing in disguise that this Mistress was
the only one who had reinforced the Five Elemental Barrier."
"Yes. The Divine
Pillars that descended were Takamikura-sama, Shiro-sama, and Aka-sama. The only
one whose divine energy went out of control was Aka-sama.
It is not a
coincidence, is it?"
Tsuguho's confirmation
was met with Shuka's affirmative response.
Only when the Four
Sovereigns and the Three Imperial Families are all present can Nurarihyon's
schemes be fully effective.
However, despite the
threat of Nurarihyon being fully reported, the movement of the Three Imperial
Families remained slow.
Before the Four
Sovereigns had even arrived, the Hyakki Yagyo occurred at a time when the sun
was high in the sky.
As a result, Shuka's
divine energy caused the spiritual path of Soukoku to collapse and only
stripped the outer edges of the Five Elemental Barrier. This result is too
favorable for Central Capital to be considered as a lucky coincidence.
"Since there are
so many coincidences, it's nothing but a foregone conclusion.
―The moves were mostly made by Takamikura-sama."
"Did Central
Capital receive an oracle about Nurarihyon, after all?"
"I suppose so.
Nurarihyon's schemes are so ingenious that she probably decided to stop
defending, thinking that it would lead us to defeat if she interpreted the
oracle poorly.”
The shock that had
pierced through her body and mind was gone, and Tsuguho stood up and activated
a regeneration talisman.
The pale flame was
dyed with the divine energy of vermillion gold, and the feeling of discomfort
that remained in her body disappeared.
It was Gensei's
talisman retrieved from Akira, as part of the Talisman Association instruction.
It was especially
blessed by Shuka's divine energy and brought tremendous healing to Tsuguho's
current condition.
Relief leaked from
Tsuguho's throat as she was comforted by the pale flames.
"Could it be that
Nurarihyo has successfully invaded the spiritual path?"
"―With Shōrō
(earth element) most likely having retreated to the Central Sanctuary, and the
barrier of Mount Kugatachi having received this Mistress' divine energy
head-on,
It would be foolish
for Nurarihyon, who had already played his hands, not to take a gamble at this
point."
Hearing Shuka's reply,
Tsuguho invoked Arawakamioroshi.
With the Five
Elemental Barrier destroyed, there was little point in protecting the main
shrine, which was a sanctuary. If one assumes that Nurarihyon has invaded the
spiritual path, then it is the spiritual path that should be protected.
Tsuguho's feet, with a
hint of vermillion gold dwelling in them, trampled on the gravel in front of
the main shrine.
The place is close to
the summit of Mt. Kugatachi, but the atmosphere of a battlefield is still
distant.
She lowered her hips
slightly and leaped.
The leg strength
boosted by the tremendous force made Tsuguho's body flew into the sky.
The passage leading to
the shrine with a row of torii gates was located halfway up the Kugatachi
Mountain. The body of the girl wearing a white robe fell down as if dancing, looking
at the narrow passage with her blue-tinted eyes.
The square where the
girl set foot without a sound was the base point of the barrier where the
spiritual paths of Aioi and Soukoku intersected.
"There's no one
around here within my observation radius.
―Is this some kind of command by the head of the Rindou
family?"
“It might be better this way, wouldn't it?
This is our
battlefield, and unnecessary distraction will only hinder our movements."
The fierce rivalry
between the spiritual power and the miasma that was erupting at the foot of the
mountain was transmitting the presence of the Hyakki Yagyo to the hillside
where Tsuguho was standing, which was some distance away.
Although it seemed as
if they were concentrating their forces on the foot of the mountain, in fact,
this small square, where the paths from the foot of the mountain converge, is
the true battlefield.
"That would be
the case if it were anyone else, but if it were the head of Rindo, he'd be a
force to be reckoned with.
......I don't sense
any fluctuation in the divine energy, from which direction will Nurarihyon
appear?"
"Since Soukoku
has fallen, there is no other way but through Aioi.
As I predicted. ―Here
they come."
A brief warning came
from Shuka. The path leading to the spiritual path of Aioi was submerged in the
color of the ocean floor.
This color, swaying
endlessly like in the ocean's depths, deprived Tsuguho of her vision.
"!"
"―Hi, hi. As I
thought, you won't let me through so easily."
"It's been a
while, Nurarihyon. I hope your coming here means you're ready to have your neck
severed."
"―Hi, hi.
Kugatachi Mountain is our next stop. Now that we have our goal in sight, we
will let you off the hook if you just quiver in the corner."
"―Nonsense!"
A slash approached
from behind. However, just before it reached Tsuguho, it collided with the
drawn dagger.
Through the flying
sparks and clashing blades, Tsuguho and the Noh mask's gazes met.
The Noh mask was
modeled after an ordinary man with only a short mustache as a distinguishing
feature. It gave an even fainter impression than when they crossed blades in
Karen, but Tsuguho, not to be outdone, slashed out her dagger.
With nimbleness that
belies his ordinary appearance, the man with the Noh mask jumped back.
With no intention of
allowing the man to gain momentum, Tsuguho stepped forward with a great heave.
Kihoin-style
Spirit Technique, Shoden, ―Enga.
"Fu!"
A slash imbued with
flames crossed the air sharply from outside the gap, which was supposed to be
out of reach.
The spirit technique,
which rendered the gap futile, came close to Nurarihyon's throat as he
attempted to retreat.
―A direct descendant of the Four Sovereigns. Even as a
Miko, she is still a bit naive.
A smirk appeared on
the mouth behind the Noh mask, and the machete blade was swung out vertically
at the same time as he activated a talisman.
The slash, accompanied
by the radiance of the ocean floor, confronted the flame-infused flying slash.
Clash. The sound of
the collision echoed throughout the area, and the Enga, which was infused with
divine energy, shattered into fragments.
"......Is that
your divinity, Nurarihyon?"
"Well, I wonder. It
is indeed a nostalgic radiance, ...... but it is long gone from our
memories."
Despite feeling a
little dazed, he lowered his hips and readjusted his stance.
"Whichever side
you are on, if you don't back down, we will attack you. I have no intention of
retreating this time, so please rest assured."
He declared so with a
sneer. Before his exhale was even over, the Noh mask closed the gap between
them from a low, ground-encroaching position.
―Caught off guard, Tsuguho's initial move was slightly
delayed.
The Noh-masked-man's
throat unintentionally vibrated as he seized the perfect opportunity for
victory.
♢
Hearing his own
sneering voice, Nurarihyon's mouth gnashed with impatience behind the Noh mask.
―The fact is, he can no longer retreat.
He has spent a long
time and a great deal of time and effort to get to this point. And he cannot
even start all over again from the beginning.
If retreating means
nothing but destruction, then there is no choice but to advance.
Even so, there
remained a question in Nurarihyon's mind that he could not shake off.
From the sensation he
felt in return, it was certain that Yamamoto Gorozaemon had perished.
His demise was within
his expectation, but to die so soon at this stage was completely unexpected.
―The speed at which the Hyakki Yagyo is progressing is
still accelerating even now.
The speed is so fast that
even improvised correction cannot catch up with it.
It is a speed that is
too strange to be described as smooth. Glancing up, the sun is still high in
the sky.
If things continue to
proceed smoothly, he will surely reach Takamikura's sanctuary before evening.
Even though he still
has a trump card namely Kangyo Doji lying in wait, the situation is so abnormal
so far. He was convinced that Takamikura was pulling the strings behind the
scenes.
―Had Takamikura, of all people, discovered our origins?
The concept that
Nurarihyon governs over is strongly connected to the water element.
The water element,
which is the culmination of Yin Qi, can only demonstrate its true potential at
night.
But that is nothing
more than a margin of error.
The acceleration of
his schemes coincides with the fact that it is also encouraging the
reappearance of Nurarihyon's myth.
His myth that he had
accomplished in the past, the Nine Dharma Treasures.
Under a karma that
converts the pain of being roasted by fire into faith, even a slight
disadvantage becomes meaningless.
―There is still a way to cut down Takamikura.
The release of the
divine attributes that his divine artifact boasts of.
If only he could
accomplish this, Nurarihyon's victory would be secured.
Suppressing a trace of
anxiety behind his Noh mask, Nurarihyon slowly took his first step.
♢
Without moving to
evade the slash that was accompanied by the glow of the ocean's depths, Tsuguho
simply gazed at the way the deadly blade was closing in.
―It was not out of desperation, she simply realized
there was no need for her to do so.
At the edge of her
vision, the spiritual path of Soukoku was stained with darkness that she could
not even see the depths of.
If the destination
connected to the fallen spiritual path was Mitsuzutorii Mountain, then there
should only be one person who would pass through it.
The legs that stepped
out from the depths of the spiritual path were unreliable and not strengthened.
As if to show that he
had been in a series of battles before this, even the traces of divine energy
he had been blessed with had been completely depleted.
First step. Fallen
leaves danced slightly under his feet as he stepped out.
Second step. Divine
energy instantly filled him and cast a lingering flame in its wake.
Third step. Leaving
behind the fallen leaves, which burned and scattered with the brilliance of
vermillion gold, the speed melted the distance between the boy loved by the Divine
Pillar and the Noh-masked-man.
The Noh-masked man
prioritized Shuka and Tsuguho, who stood before his eyes. ―The trajectory of
the deadly blade approaching their throats.
"―Hi!?"
While staring at the
Noh mask, seemingly caught off guard, the boy, who had finished filling himself
with divine energy, reached out his hand into the void.
He grasped one of the
two swords stored in his heart.
―The shadow that undermines the sun. The flame of
rebirth that wishes for the setting sun.
―The moment when the crimson lotus flower sinks is the moment
when the setting sun appears.
His lips announced a
prayer for the divine artifact wrought by the divine pillar.
"Sink
into the setting sun, ―Rakuyou Zakuro!!"
An endless scorching
light pierced through the dimly lit square.
The boy's body intervened
in the trajectory of the machete blade, and the slashing motion of the dancing
divine artifact severed the machete in half.
"―You caught up,
huh?"
"Yeah. I've
caught up with you, Nurarihyon.
―I'll stop you here."
He could not hide his
frustration. The tone of the ordinary man's Noh mask was laced with a hatred
that didn't seem to fit him.
Holding a machete and
a talisman in each hand, the Noh-masked-man danced his small frame in the air.
In the hands of the
boy who confronted him, Rakuyou Zakuro responded to the boy's call, raised its
vermillion gold brilliance, and rampaged.
Standing behind
Tsuguho, Shuka's face lit up with joy that could not be concealed.
"―Akira!!"
The mountain wind
blowing down from the Kugatachi Mountain created a whirlwind that danced
through the air.
Akira's haori
fluttered loudly on his back.
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